Argentina dissolution of National Children’s Chorus

The Argentine government, under President Javier Milei and Chief of Staff Diego Santilli, issued Decree 687/2026 to dissolve the Coro Nacional de Niños, a cultural institution established in 1967.

Officials justified the dissolution through administrative efficiency and resource optimization, noting that current legal frameworks regarding the participation of minors in public administration made the existing structure incompatible with state operations. Chief of Staff Diego Santilli clarified that under new labor legislation, minors cannot receive payments from the State, addressing disputes over whether participants received salaries or scholarships.

The dissolved institution is being replaced by the “Programa de Formación Artística” (Artistic Training Program) under the Secretariat of Culture. This new initiative focuses on two pillars: choral singing practice and dance training for children and adolescents aged 6 to 17. Unlike the previous institution, the new program is strictly formative; it will not create stable ensembles within the National Public Administration, nor will participation grant official academic titles or establish labor or employment relationships with the state.